}
STATISM is a deadly, highly addictive drug.
Some have gone so far as to call it a cult.
With the brutal, hedonistic pure power rush it gives its users, it's not hard to see why.
For those tired of feeling powerless, anxious and full of fear, the drug "statism" provides a feeling of ultimate power over others, and the near-complete elimination of fears associated with independent, critical thinking. It does this via a unique chemical combination of the "mob rule" molecule (also known as democracy) and "taxation" – a chemical compound allowing humans to live parasitically at the expense of all those around them.
(Statism PSA:
While to the clean and sober individual this self-nullifying cycle of parasitism is an absurdity, to the struggling addict the so-called logic of using systematic violence against the non-violent to bring about peace makes perfect sense. This is due to a unique reaction that happens in the brain when statism is snorted, injected, or absorbed through schooling and television. The critical thinking and empathic regions of the cerebellum and heart are shut down, while the amygdala – or reptilian fear center of the brain lights up markedly.
To give a brief example of what this shutdown looks like:
When Ryan Marconi, renowned researcher and lecturer at Yale's prestigious Anti-Statist School of Voluntaryist Studies, explained the illogic of taxation to Marcus Dumbleby, an undergrad with a full-blown addiction to statism, the transcribed exchange went as follows:
Marconi: Okay, Ryan. Let's do a little thought experiment.
Dumbleby: Okay.
Marconi: Let's say you live in a quiet little neighborhood, where everyone gets along and enjoys life, but just one thing is missing. Everybody wants to build a park for the children of the neighborhood to play in. Are you following me so far?
Dumbleby: Yes, professor.
Marconi: Great. So yes, everyone wants to build a park. One of your neighbors wants it a little too bad, though. He rings your doorbell, and when you answer he informs you he is independently collecting donations to build the park.
Dumbleby: Oh, great!
Marconi: Yes, it's wonderful. But there's one little catch. You see, Marcus, in this scenario you don't have any money to make a donation at the moment.
Dumbleby: I don't?
Marconi: No Marcus, you don't. But when you tell your neighbor you are not able to donate at the moment, he produces a gun and says that if you don't he will have to put you in a cage.
Dumbleby: What!? Why???
Marconi: Would you say your neighbor's action here is right or wrong?
Dumbleby: It's wrong, of course! He's just using violence to get money for the park. That's what a mugger woulds do, not a neighbor!
Marconi: *taking notes* Very good. Very good, indeed. Okay Marcus, now let's imagine the next day the same neighbor comes back with two other men from the neighborhood, and they all demand you pay for the park, or they will all help carry you away to a cage. And if you resist them, they may kill you.
Dumbleby: That's awful...
Marconi: Would you say the extortion is acceptable now, because there are three people who agree?
Dumbleby: Why no, professor. Why, that's just a mob!
Marconi: Interesting. Well, then. Let's say, Marcus, the next day the whole neighborhood Rotary Club is at your doorstep, pitchforks and torches in hand, demanding you donate for the park. Is that okay?
Dumbleby: No! That's awful. Of course I'd be glad to pay if I had money. But even if someone just didn't want to donate for other reasons they should be able to say no. It's a free country!
Marconi: Alright Marcus. You are doing great. One last addition to the scenario. What if the whole town, or whole state, or whole country demanded you pay for the park in similar, violent fashion.
Dumbleby: It's still wrong!
Marconi: And why is it still wrong, Marcus?
Dumbleby: Because that's just a mob. That's not how civilized people accomplish things. That's just brute force and violence.
Marconi: How then, Marcus, is that qualitatively differentiated from someone being coerced into paying taxes for a park, a war, or any other thing, under threat of violence from the government?
Dumbleby: Huh?
Marconi: How is taxation different from what your neighbors are trying to do to you in the scenario?
Dumbleby: What?? That's easy, I pay taxes voluntarily.
Marconi: You do. Has there ever been anything you did not wish to pay taxes for?
Dumbleby: Sure, lots of things. Like that fancy new library over on Vine Street. What a waste of taxpayer money! Did they really need that giant fountain out front?
Marconi: Why didn't you simply decline to pay?
Dumbleby: Well if I don't pay taxes I'll get into trouble.
Marconi: I see. What will happen if you don't pay taxes?
Dumbleby: I could be audited. Maybe even go to jail.
Marconi: Aha. And if you resist being taken to that cage?
Dumbleby: Well, I guess if I resisted armed IRS agents and tried to fight back I'd probably be killed.
Marconi: Marcus, do you not see then how taxation is qualitatively identical to your neighbor extorting you to pay for the kids' park?
Dumbleby: No, because my neighbor isn't the government.
Marconi: And who is the government, Marcus?
Dumbleby: Well, we elect them to make decisions on our behalf.
Marconi: And what if you disagree with their decisions, as with the taxes for the library issue?
Dumbleby: Well, I have to vote to change things.
Marconi: And if your choice doesn't win the election?
Dumbleby: Well, then I will be forced to pay. But that's different than mob rule, because it's democracy.
Marconi: Thank you Marcus. That will be all for today.
***
As you can see from the exchange between the professor and Marcus Dumbleby, statism profoundly compromises the critical thinking faculties of those addicted to the drug. There is a promising treatment on the horizon, however, known as voluntaryism. Please see the public service announcement video mid-article to learn more. Thank you for reading.
-GS